The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-08-05
THE TRICKS OF MISeRS.

About forty years ago the custom of
concealing money in an out-ot- the-way
place, unknown TO all but Its possessor,
was greatly practiced. This was occa-
stoned at that time by the very uncertain
condition of the saving banks. Although
the danger of failing banks is, to a large
extent, thing of the past, the practice OF
hiding money prevails. Often II the
owner of the hidden treasure should die
without revealing the whereabouts of his
money, il would be likely to occasion
great anxiety and CONSERVATION among
eXpectant relatives
In the northeastern part Of y. Y. city q
case of this nature occurred not many
wears ago. An old man who lived in
very frugal manner, but who was reputed
10 be the possessor of large amount OF
money was run over at q railroad cross
ing and killed instantly. He had several
relatives, who, although they were some
what diihdent about acknowledging the
tie previous to the old man death, were
very eager to proclaim il - soon as they
heard he had left behind him consider
able store of gold. The house IN which
the old man had lived WAS large, shaky
old structure, full of hooks and crevIces,
which would seem TO be the very place
that a miser would select as n boarding
place for his money. The house was ran
sacked from cellar to garrett, every crack
and creyice was explored, and the furnl-
ture was taken to pieces, but all IN vain,
for at the end OF two weeks vigllant
search, they were no nearer she object OF
their search than when they began. A
consultation was held, and after some
discussion it was decided to continue the
work by proxy, and a well known private
detective Was engaged.
This person looked over the premises,
and found everything that would he like
ly to contain the money turned inside out,
SO thoroughly had the anxious relatives
done their work. Now the question for
the detective to decide was whether the
deceased would have been likely to bury
his wealth. 1t WAS necessary TO ascertain
the habits OF the old man, and to find in
what part OF the grounds he WAS most in
the habit OF walking, for 1t Is IN estab
hshed fact that a person who has every
thought concentrated upon a certain
place will be very likely TO visit it as
often as possible.
The deceased had kept one servant, .
very deaf old woman, who had been with
him for a number of years, and she was
questioned about the habits OF her late
master. She said he rarely left the house,
but would sit all day long IN nis library.
This upset the theory OF the money being
buried, and the detective returned to
take = fresh inventory OF the library
The relatives hal given their attention
TO this room at an early stage of the
search. The bookcases had b-rn moved
out from the wall every yoluIu,. had been
opened and every drawer IuSPcrtel, 50
that no fresh place Of concedlnent sug-
.stStt-d itSs-lf
Poudering upon the mysterious matter
he hxt-i hi- ewes ahst r5,rt,-ilv upon the
ceiling, where he saw something that
made his heart thump. The ccilIug w.ls
OF the usual hrisht, but Wis m.isic 81
wool, put IN long strips about ri.ht inches
wide. IL evidently ha- nBt been swept
OF for years, and = lsvrr OF srimy dirt
cluns % the boar,ls What attracted the
detective : Alteration was a sI.nt near the
centre of the criiing, on which the dust
did not appear 20 be n thick on the
rest Of the boards The difference in the
color oi this spot was - slight that only
an experienced eve could have detected
IL, and on getting under this particular
spot the detective noticed marks IN the
dust as though made by the tips oi human
fingers.
There was q solid old table in one cor
ner Of the room, which, though used
pretty roughly IN the general ransackiny.
Sas still able % bear the officers weight.
Drawing this 20 the mi,ldle Of th. room.
he iound - Slight abrasion of the v-ner r
ing near the centre OF the table, like the
marks that would be lett by the feet OF a
chair. This additional proof was strength
ened when the detective put a chair
upon the table, and the feet eNactly fit
tfd the scratches on the surface of IL
pettIng up on the chair, the scarcher
pressed the tips OF his fingers in the faint
trs.,ks in the dust, and 4 part of board
yielded 10 the touch like magic, leaving
hole about eight inches square. In
serting his hand through the opening the
detective felt around and drew forth a
long, narrow tin box. In this was dis
covered many thousands OF dollars in
United States bonds and greenbacks.
The detective pocketed snug reward.